Former Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp has welcomed new government plans that will allow victims of online stalking to learn the identity of their tormenters.
The Home Office announced its intention to introduce the ‘Right to Know’ on December 3, inspired by the experience of former Corrie star Nicola, who was abused online by a man calling himself the Grim Reaper.
During her two-year ordeal, Nicola was harassed from almost 30 separate social media accounts, all of which had been set up by one man she did not know.
However, the actress was only able to find out his identity when he appeared in court.
Reacting to the government’s plans to allow the police to reveal a stalker’s identity at the earliest opportunity, Nicola said: ‘For too long, stalking victims have been at the mercy not only of their stalker, but a justice system that failed to protect them.
‘These new measures will empower victims to regain some much-needed control of their lives and police to bring abusers to justice.’
Nicola Thorp is a regular on morning TV – popping up on Good Morning Britain and This Morning to discuss a wide range of topics, from mental health to women’s issues.
But who did she play in Corrie, and what does she get up to when off-screen?
Here is all you need to know about Nicola Thorp.
Who did Nicola Thorp play in Coronation Street?
For over two years, Nicola played Nicola Rubinstein on Coronation Street.
Arriving on the famous cobbles back in June 2017,Nicola was the daughter of Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre), brought on the show as Seb Franklin’s (Harry Visinoni) caseworker.
She had a dramatic time on the show, with the character being shot by her father in February 2018 and just about surviving before she left to start her new life in Bristol.
Nicola confirmed her exit from Corrie shortly after the scenes aired, posting a video message on the official Corrie account.
In it, she said: ‘Hey everyone, I just wanted to say I’ve had the most incredible year here working at Corrie.
‘To be involved in Phelan’s demise has been an absolute treat, and I hope you’ve all been enjoying it as much as I have enjoyed filming it. I’ve got wonderful friends, a family that I’ve made here, and I’ll be really, really sad to say goodbye for now.’
What else has Nicola Thorp done?
Apart from her role in Corrie, she starred in a 2013 episode of Doctor Who, the three-part ITV serial The Guilty, and an episode of Doctors.
In addition to her acting, Nicola Thorp previously wrote a weekly column for Metro, where she tackled topics ranging from women’s issues to British politics.
Nicola joined the launch team of TalkTV in 2022, becoming a presenter on panel discussion show The Talk. She later moved to host the breakfast show Talk Today with former ITV personality Jeremy Kyle.
She left the channel after it was announced it would be moving from linear television to online-only.
In August 2024, Nicola married fellow actor Nikesh Patel, seven months after they welcomed their first child together.
Announcing the birth of their daughter in January, Nicola posted on social media: ‘Everything they say about birth being a rollercoaster of emotions is true. We’re shattered and smitten and everything in between.’
